Facebook Messenger: Here's a Guide to Send Secret Conversations

Facebook's new "Secret Conversations" function is providing enhanced privacy for messages that could contain sensitive information.

After successfully completing the test, Facebook has finally launched its one-on-one encrypted messaging feature called Secret Conversations. It is available for all Android and iOS users.

Hence, users can now send and receive secret conversations and what's more, these messages can be set to "self-destruct."

Facebook has specifically come out with a feature to ensure the high security for your messages and prevent unauthorized accessed by anyone else. By enabling end-to-end encryption to messages it is impossible for them to be intercepted.

Secret Conversations is an opt-in feature that lets only the people involved in the chat to see the conversation. However, the fact that it is not enabled by default and group conversations not included in Secret Conversations seems to be a downside of the feature.

Secret conversations are currently only available in the Messenger app on iOS and Android, so they won't appear on Facebook chat or messenger.com.

Now that you know about the new Facebook feature, let us move ahead and see how you can startyour secret conversation.

Stay tuned to GizBot for more updates!

Tap on the Secret Conversation Option

First you need to update the Facebook Messenger app. Once you are done with it, open the Facebook Messenger app and tap the "compose message" icon in the top right of the screen.

You should see a list of your contacts and, again in the top right of the screen, the word "Secret" is present. Tap it and select the friend you want to talk to.

Alternatively, if you're using an Android phone you'll see a small switch with a padlock instead.

Make your Phone the Default Device

The app will then ask you to set the phone you're using as your default device. It basically means that the conversation won't show up on any other phones or tablets you've linked to your Facebook account. Hit the "Make Default" option to continue.

Start your Conversation

You can now send messages to your friend. The conversation will be encrypted end-to-end. You'll know it's secret because Facebook has given the chat window a natty black makeover.

Facebook also gives another option. When Secret Conversations are enabled, both people in the secret conversation have a device key. This can be compared to verify if the messages are end-to-end encrypted or not.

Setting the Timer

If you want to set your messages to self-destruct, click the Set Timer (clock face on Android) and select how long you want the message to remain after it's been read. Once the time is up the message will automatically disappear.

Enable Secret Conversation Function on Your Partner's Device Also

However, in order to access these facilities the other user also has to enable the Secret Conversation function on their Facebook Messenger.